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Written by Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem
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Published: 24 May 2013 24 May 2013
British foreign secretary says there is no 'plan B' and warns of consequences of failure of US mission to revive peace process
William Hague visits E1, the site of a proposed Israeli settlement, during a brief trip to Jerusalem and Ramallah. Photograph: Mahmoud illean/Demotix/Corbis
The British foreign secretary, William Hague, has warned of the risks of failure of the US-sponsored mission to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, suggesting that it was the last attempt possible at reaching a two-state solution to the conflict and there was no realistic "plan B".
On the second day of his brief trip to Jerusalem and Ramallah, Hague told reporters that the consequences of failure would be very severe, and the chances of a Palestinian state were slipping away.
The US secretary of state John Kerry's drive to restart talks was "a moment of opportunity that won't easily come round again," Hague said. He later repeated the point: "If this doesn't work, there is not going to be another moment in American diplomacy that is more committed and energetic to bring about negotiations. So it's very important – in weeks, not months – to make the most of this opportunity."
Three times during a 20-minute press conference, Hague said "bold leadership" was required on both sides for Kerry's mission to succeed. Many western diplomats are sceptical about the Israelis' frequently stated commitment to resume talks, given their unwillingness to curb the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which are seen as an impediment to peace talks by most of the international community.
Read more: Two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict slipping away, says British foreign secretary...